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Definition (Revisited) Enantiomers are stereoisomers that are nonsuperimposable mirror images. Note that all the chiral centres in a pair of enantiomers are mirror images of each other. 2
Practice Questions Enantiomers Draw the enantiomer of the chiral amino acid, threonine whose structure is shown below: Note that threonine, an essential amino acid not synthesized in humans, must be ingested in the form of threonine-containing proteins. 3
Enantiomers Designation of Configuration Configuration of a molecule is the sense of arrangement of atoms of a molecule in space that distinguishes between stereoisomers and is independent of rotation about any single bond (conformation differences). Conformation of a molecule is the arrangement in space of atoms of a molecule affording distinction between stereoisomers which can be interconverted by rotations about single bonds. 4
Enantiomers Designation of Configuration Absolute Configuration designates the specific arrangement in space of atoms of a chiral centre using a sequence of rules. It uses a stereochemical description e.g. R or S. Relative Configuration is the sense of arrangement of atoms or groups at a chiral centre with respect to any other chiral centre contained within the same (using erythro or threo, syn or anti) or related (using D or L configuration) molecule. 5
Designation of Configuration Absolute Configuration A molecule may contain any number of chiral centres, each giving rise to two possible configurations. There is need for general rules to define the configurations of these chiral centres in unambiguous fashion. A solution to defining the configuration of stereoisomers was devised in 1966 by Robert Cahn, Christopher Ingold and Vladimir Prelog. The Cahn Ingold Prelog priority rules are sometimes called the CIP system or the R-S system of defining configurations. 6
Designation of Configuration Absolute Configuration In the CIP system of assigning configurations to chiral centres, each chiral center is assigned a prefix (R or S), according to whether its configuration is right- or lefthanded. The symbol R comes from the Latin rectus for right, and S from the Latin sinister for left. The assignment of prefixes of configurations to these centres is based on the application of: a) a series of sequence rules b) followed by a viewing rule 7
Designation of Absolute Configuration Sequence Rules The sequence rules assigns priority to the groups directly attached to the chiral center using the letters a (highest priority), b, c and d (lowest priority) based on atomic number. After the application of the sequence rules to prioritize the substituents, the molecule is then subjected to the viewing rule to determine the direction of rotation. 8
Designation of Absolute Configuration The Viewing Rule The Viewing rule determines the direction of rotation; clockwise (R) or anticlockwise (S) by repositioning the molecule so that the lowest priority group is oriented away from the viewer when looking along the axis of the C-d σ bond. 9
Designation of Absolute Configuration Sequence Rule 1 To assign an R or S configuration: Assign priority (highest = a to lowest = d) to each group directly attached to the chiral center based on atomic number. The group having the atom of higher atomic number receives higher priority. H < C < N < O < S < Cl < Br < I as present in the substituents below: 10
Designation of Absolute Configuration Assigning Configurations to Chiral Centers Application of Sequence Rule 1 11
Designation of Absolute Configuration Sequence Rule 2 When two substituents have the same immediate substituent atom, atoms progressively further away are evaluated until a difference is found. A list is made for each group of atoms bonded to the one directly attached to the chiral center. Each list is arranged in order of decreasing atomic number. The lists are compared atom by atom; at the earliest difference, the group containing the atom of higher atomic number receives higher priority. For example, CH 3 < CH 3 CH 2 < H 2 NCH 2 < HOCH 2 12
Designation of Absolute Configuration Sequence Rule 2 The lists are compared atom by atom; at the earliest difference, the group containing the atom of higher atomic number receives higher priority. e.g, CH 3 < CH 3 CH 2 < H 2 NCH 2 < HOCH 2. 13
The CIP Sequence Rules for Assigning Configurations to Chiral Centers Sequence Rule 2. Menthol occurs naturally in peppermint oil. It has local anaethetic properties and is used to relieve minor throat irritation. 14
Sequence Rule 3 If double or triple bonded groups are encountered as substituents, they are treated as an equivalent set of single-bonded atoms. E.g. CH 3 CH 2 < CH 2 =CH < HC C < CH 2 =O < CO 2 H 15
Sequence Rule 3: Limonene Assign absolute configuration to the limonene responsible for the lemon aroma. The limonene responsible for the lemon aroma is S- limonene. 16
Nomenclature Absolute Configuration When provided with a structure whose stereochemistry is indicated with wedges and hashes, the name of the compound must also specify the absolute configurations at each of the chiral centres for completeness. 17
Practice Questions Absolute Configuration Threonine is one of two amino acids out of the standard 20 amino acids with two chiral centres. Assign the configuration at each of the chiral centres in the threonines below and identify which structures are the same. 18
Solution Absolute Configuration Assign the configuration at each of the chiral centres in the molecules to identify which structures are the same. Similar structures have the same configuration 19
Structural Representation of Chiral Molecules The problem of drawing three-dimensional configurations on a two-dimensional surface has been a long-standing concern to chemists. Although, the solid wedge (front of plane) and hashed line (behind the plane) notations are effective, they can be troublesome when applied to compounds having multiple chiral centres. 20
Fischer Projections of Chiral Molecules As part of his Nobel Prize-winning research on carbohydrates, the German Chemist Hermann Emil Fischer, devised a simple notation that is still widely used. He won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1902 and died in 1919 from osazone poisoning. 21
What is a Fischer Projection? A Fischer projection is a 2-dimensional representation of a 3-D molecule. In a Fischer projection, the four bonds to a chiral carbon are represented as a cross. It places the most oxidized carbon residue, attached to the chiral centre, at the top of the cross and the least oxidized carbon residue at the bottom of the cross. 22
Fischer Projections of Chiral Molecules The Fischer projection uses vertical lines in place of dashes for bonds oriented away from the viewer. It uses horizontal lines in place of wedges for bonds that are directed toward the viewer (forward of the chiral carbon). Note that there are no bonds on the plane of the paper in the 3-D interpretation of the Fischer projection. 23
Enantiomers Drawing Fischer Projections of Chiral Molecules To generate the Fischer projection of a chiral molecule: (i) Identify the longest carbon chain that passes through all the chiral centres (ii) Orient the zigzag structure so that the most oxidized carbon connected to the chiral centre(s) is verticallyoriented at the top of the plane and the remaining chain is at the bottom. (iii)rotate the molecule 90 o off-plane on a vertical axis so that the most oxidized carbon is still vertical up, but oriented away, while the longest continuous carbon is vertical down and oriented away. The two remaining substituents will be on the horizontal axis facing the viewer. 24
Drawing Fischer Projections of Chiral Molecules Lactic Acid 25
Enantiomers Relative Configuration of Sugars and Amino Acids from their Fischer Projections When the Fischer projections of sugars and amino acids are drawn with the most oxidized carbon fragment at the top and the longest carbon chain at the bottom in a vertical alignment: i. Those sugars and amino acids that have either the OH or NH 2 group on the left at the highest numbered chiral carbon are designated as L-sugars or amino acids. ii.those sugars and amino acids that have the OH or NH 2 group on the right are D-sugars or amino acids. 26
Relative Configuration of Sugars Based on Fischer Projections 27
Relative Configuration of Amino Acids Based on Fischer Projections 28
Fischer Projection of Threonine 29
Assigning D or L Notations on Fischer Projections Molecules with multiple chiral centres are designated D or L based on the chiral centre at the bottom. Enantiomers can be generated from Fischer Projections by inverting at each of the chiral centres. 30
Chiral Properties of Enantiomers Optical Activity Optical activity is the property of a molecule to rotate the plane of polarized light. Chiral molecules are optically active and rotate planepolarised monochromatic light either clockwise or counterclockwise This property is inherent in the interaction between light and the individual molecules through which it passes. 31
Measurement of Optical Activity: Optical Rotation The optical activity of a substrate is usually assessed as the optical rotation (degree of rotation of plane-polarized light) and is measured using a polarimeter. The source light passes through a polarizer and then is detected at an analyzer. The angle between the entrance and exit planes is the optical rotation, a. 32
Measurement of Optical Rotation Optical rotation a is measured in degrees. A clockwise rotation is called dextrorotatory or (+), while an anticlockwise rotation is levorotatory or (-). The optical rotation a is not very useful for direct comparative purposes since it depends not only on the analyte itself, but also the path length the light traverses, the concentration of the analyte and the wavelength of the light used. The more useful property is the specific rotation [a] D that is standardized for concentration and path length. 33
Enantiomers Calculation of Specific Rotation Specific rotation [α] is a standardized constant for the degree that a solution rotates plane-polarized light. [a] T D = (Optical rotation/(pathlength x concentration)) Where: [a] T D = a/(l x C) = degrees/(dm x g/ml) a is the observed optical rotation in degrees, l is path length of cell in decimeters (1 dm = 10 cm) c is concentration of solution in grams per ml T refers to temperature, commonly 25 o C. D refers to the D line of sodium of wavelength 589 nm 34
Enantiomers Sample Calculation of Specific Rotation The optical rotation of a solution of 0.497 g of valine dissolved in 5 ml of ethanol measured in a cell of path length 2 decimeter is +6.58 o. Calculate the specific rotation, [a] D, of the amino acid valine. When calculating specific rotation, remember to include its sign (+ or -). Specific Rotation = Observed Rotation / (conc, g/ml) x (length of sample tube, decimeters) concentration = 0.497g / 5 ml = 0.0994 g/ml Specific rotation = +6.58 o / (0.0994 g/ml x 2 dm) = +33.1 o 35
Chiral Properties: Optical Activity Enantiomers differ only in the properties that are chiral: direction of rotation of plane polarized light, their rate of reaction with chiral reagents, biological activity and taste. The two enantiomers of mandelic acid are isolated from sweet and bitter almonds, respectively. 36
Chiral Properties: Kinetics of Enantiomers Enantiomers react at different rates with chiral reagents. Enzymes being chiral, the enzyme D-amino acid oxidase catalyzes only the reaction of the R enantiomer and leaves the S enantiomer unchanged. The enzyme binds only one enantiomer since as expected only the right hand fits the right-hand glove. Only one sense of orientation of the amino acids can fit in the enzyme pocket of D-amino oxidase. 37
Chiral Properties: Biological Activity Stereochemistry is important in biological systems because most body reactions are stereospecific. Receptors on cells accept only molecules with specific spatial arrangements. Other configurations of the same chemical may not elicit a favorable response or be toxic. A pair of enantiomers interact with diverse biological receptors as illustrated below. 38
Chiral Properties: Aroma Receptors located on the exterior of nerve cells in the nose are able to perceive and differentiate the estimated 10,000 smells to which they are exposed. The two enantiomers, (R)-carvone, found in spearmint oil, and (S)-carvone, the main constituent of caraway seed oil have such different odors because each fits into a different receptor. 40
Chiral Properties: Taste Although there are individual variations between enantiomers, there are now well-recognized taste differences between enantiomers of many compounds. For example, D-asparagine has a sweet taste, while the natural L-asparagine is tasteless. 41
Chiral Properties: Chemotherapy Many drugs are chiral and interact with a chiral receptor or enzyme to elicit its efficacy. One enantiomer of a drug may effectively treat a disease whereas its antipode may be ineffective or toxic. As a regulatory requirement, for safe application, the (S)-Naproxen should be in excess of 97% pure. 42